Sunscreen does expire — here's when to toss the bottle

Summer is now upon us, and that means the hot sun is beating down
on our backs, exposing our bodies to that
skin-cooking radiation we call sunlight.

And so begins the season of constantly dousing yourself in
sunscreen. And it's not just necessary for the
glow-in-the-dark pale types.
All shades of human skin can burn. Better dig
out that bottle of sunscreen that's been hiding in your
closet, eagerly anticipating warm weather and sunshine.

But is it still good after its winter slumber under the
beach towels? Does sun screen expire?

In general, a bottle of sunscreen will last about
three years.

However, that expiration date is really a moot point — it really
shouldn't last that long. If a bottle of it lasts for more than a
few uses, you're not using enough.

"If spring comes and you still have some left from the prior
year, finish it up and then get a new bottle," dermatologist Dr.
Melissa Piliang of the
Cleveland Clinic told Business Insider.

The Mayo Clinic recommends using one
ounce of sunscreen (about a shot glass worth) to
cover areas exposed to the sun, but obviously that depends on
body size and skin exposure.

So, unless you're buying it by
the jug, that bottle of sunscreen should only last
you a few trips to the beach.